Subject: IWG Corona California Human Relations Commission letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 22:40:46 -0400 (EDT)

June 12, 1998

Daily Independent
823 S. Main St.
Corona, CA  91720

Dear Editors:

We were disturbed by the June 9 report in your paper
concerning both remarks by Kern County Human Relations
Commissioner, Pastor Douglas Hearn, and the reactions
to those remarks.  Certainly Rev. Hearn's remarks were
not inconsistent with views expressed in many
religious institutions, and we should respect his
right to religious exercise and free speech.  It is
possible, however, to both defend his constitutional
rights and be offended by what he said.  Making such
remarks as the Human Relations Commissioner in a
meeting of that commission is not appropriate and
displays a sensitivity level that would seem to be
inadequate to the job.  

We were even more distressed by the quotes attributed
to Barry Jacobs, who made the assertion that Hearn
still supported the civil rights of sexual minorities. 
One cannot be said to be supporting a person's civil
rights while at the same time claiming that they are
automatically disqualified from holding certain
positions in society.  Full citizenship includes more
than what Hearn described as the right to "live, shop,
and be human beings."  It also includes the
constitutionally-protected right to run for public
office.  

Jacobs also stated that Hearn's views are based on the
Bible, and, "who are we to refute the Bible?"  Given
the wide variety of (and frequently conflicting)
interpretations of the Bible, refutation of an
individual's interpretation of the Bible is just that,
and not refutation of the Bible itself.  And since
this is the United States, and not a theocracy, the
only things the commissioners should be worried about
refuting are the laws they were appointed to uphold.
 
Sincerely,
Barbara Purdom     Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators

The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 15 congregations and
organizations and 58 clergy from 15 religious traditions. If you are in 
the general Philadelphia area and represent a congregation or religious 
organization or are clergy, let us know if you want to be added - all faiths 
are welcome. We will also be happy to help start similar organizations in 
other areas.

-- 

Interfaith Working Group                Religious organizations, congregations
[email-masked]                      and clergy supporting gay rights,
http://www.libertynet.org/iwg/          reproductive freedom, and the 
215-235-3050                            separation of church and state.